Electronic circuit breaker with lockout mechanism integrated into electronic trip mechanism

ABSTRACT

An electronic circuit breaker comprises an electronic circuitry and a lockout mechanism configured to provide a safety feature. The lockout mechanism includes a trip rod placed along a longitudinal axis of the electronic circuit breaker. The trip rod has first and second ends. The lockout mechanism further includes a barrel mounted coaxially around the trip rod near the first end of the trip rod. The lockout mechanism further includes a moving arm mechanically coupled to the trip rod. The lockout mechanism further includes an electronic-powered magnet mounted coaxially on the trip rod near the second end being opposite of the first end of the trip rod. The lockout mechanism further includes an armature mechanically coupled to the trip rod. The barrel serves to block the moving arm and the trip rod is pushed by the electronic-powered magnet to interact with the barrel to remove a lockout such that the electronic-powered magnet is activated to push the trip rod to pull on the armature, causing the electronic circuit breaker to be tripped.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an electroniccircuit breaker with a lockout mechanism integrated into an electronictrip mechanism using a single electromagnet.

2. Description of the Related Art

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI) and Ground Fault CircuitInterrupter (GFCI) are types of electronic circuit breakers that provideelectrical protection by using electronic components to detect andinterrupt various kinds of faults in a circuit. If an electroniccomponent is damaged or failed, the electronics may not work properly toprovide the intended electrical protection. Therefore, a mechanismcalled lockout mechanism is often used in the circuit breaker industryto lock the breaker from being able to be turned on if there is aproblem with electronics. Circuit breakers offering the lockout featureoften must utilize three magnets—one for high electric currenttrip(disconnect) operation, another to electronically trip the breakeron fault detection, and lastly for the lockout mechanism. However, thisis not an economical approach to build a lockout breaker, since it usesa lot of electromagnets, which are costly components in a circuitbreaker.

As described above, a total of three electromagnets were used inside anelectronic circuit breaker to achieve its regular functions of tripping(disconnecting circuit) and lockout. Incorporating a lockout mechanisminside a circuit breaker this way brings the margin down significantly.Usually, most electronic circuit breakers do not even have lockoutmechanism, since it costs a lot of money and lockout mechanism iscurrently not a safety requirement. Instead, a bimetal is used inaddition to electronics to provide an additional method of tripping.This is to ensure that the breaker can still trip even when electronicsare damaged. In a traditional circuit breaker with a bimetal, thebimetal bends due to heat when an overload of current flows on it, andthe bending functions as an automatic input to trip the circuit.However, use of such a bimetal is not the best solution.

Therefore, there is a need of a better lockout mechanism in anelectronic circuit breaker.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, aspects of the present invention relate to aneconomical lockout mechanism for an electronic circuit breaker. Thelockout mechanism is integrated into an electronic trip mechanism usinga single electromagnet. The electronic circuit breaker offers a lockoutfeature utilizing total two magnets instead of three magnets. It is aneconomical approach to build a lockout electronic circuit breaker sinceit uses less electromagnets which are costly components in a circuitbreaker.

In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention,an electronic circuit breaker comprises an electronic circuitry and alockout mechanism configured to provide a safety feature in which theelectronic circuit breaker is moved in a locked-out state so beinglocked from going into a turned ON state if the electronic circuitryinside the electronic circuit breaker is found not functional. Thelockout mechanism includes a trip rod placed along a longitudinal axisof the electronic circuit breaker. The trip rod has first and secondends. The lockout mechanism further includes a barrel mounted coaxiallyaround the trip rod near the first end of the trip rod. The lockoutmechanism further includes a moving arm mechanically coupled to the triprod. The lockout mechanism further includes an electronic-powered magnetmounted coaxially on the trip rod near the second end being opposite ofthe first end of the trip rod. The lockout mechanism further includes anarmature mechanically coupled to the trip rod. The barrel serves toblock the moving arm and the trip rod is pushed by theelectronic-powered magnet to interact with the barrel to remove alockout such that the electronic-powered magnet is activated to push thetrip rod to pull on the armature, causing the electronic circuit breakerto be tripped.

In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, an electronic circuit breaker comprises a lockout mechanism.The lockout mechanism includes a trip rod placed along a longitudinalaxis of the electronic circuit breaker. The trip rod has first andsecond ends and a cylinder tab. The lockout mechanism further includes abarrel mounted coaxially around the trip rod near the first end of thetrip rod. The barrel is a rotating component that includes a rotatortab, first and second stoppers on a side of the barrel, a lockout slotwhere the cylinder tab travels and a trip slot where the cylinder tabtravels during a trip. The cylinder tab on the trip rod travels in thelockout slot and the trip slot of the barrel. The lockout mechanismfurther includes a moving arm mechanically coupled to the trip rod andconfigured to move to connect and disconnect a circuit. The moving armincludes a pusher tab and a lockout tab. The pusher tab on the movingarm pushes down the rotator tab on the barrel during a turn ON processso that the cylinder tab is sitting on the lockout slot. The lockout tabon the moving arm gets blocked by the first stopper and the secondstopper on the barrel during the turn ON process. The first stopperlocks out the electronic circuit breaker from turning ON by blocking thelockout tab. The second stopper stops the lockout tab until the barreland the trip rod resets. The rotator tab on the barrel rotates thebarrel when pushed by the pusher tab and wherein the lockout slot is aslot where the cylinder tab travels and as the cylinder tab travels thebarrel rotates, and the first stopper moves out of way of the moving armthus removing a lockout. The lockout mechanism further includes anelectronic-powered magnet mounted coaxially on the trip rod near thesecond end being opposite of the first end of the trip rod. Theelectronic-powered magnet operates to push the trip rod to remove thelockout during the turn ON process and to trip the electronic circuitbreaker when needed. The lockout mechanism further includes anelectromagnet disposed near the first end of the trip rod. Theelectromagnet operates to push the trip rod to trip the electroniccircuit breaker when needed. The lockout mechanism further includes acradle that latches on the armature for the electronic circuit breakerto be able to turn ON and trips when the armature is rotated during atrip process. The lockout mechanism further includes an armaturemechanically coupled to the trip rod. The armature latches on the cradleand lets go of the cradle during the trip process when the trip rodpushes to rotate the armature. The lockout mechanism is configured toprovide a safety feature in which the electronic circuit breaker ismoved in a locked-out state so being locked from going into a turned ONstate if an electronic circuitry inside the electronic circuit breakeris found not functional.

In accordance with another illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, a method of moving an electronic circuit breaker in alocked-out state so being locked from going into a turned ON state if anelectronic circuitry inside the electronic circuit breaker is found notfunctional. The method comprises providing an electronic circuitry andproviding a lockout mechanism configured to provide a safety featurelike shown in claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagrammatic view of a lockout mechanism integratedinto an electronic trip mechanism of an electronic circuit breaker usinga single electromagnet with a barrel that is shown at an OFF position inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates the first step of turning ON for the electroniccircuit breaker in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an unlocking process in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the final step of turning ON in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a TRIP operation for the electronic circuit breakerin accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a flow chart of a method ofmoving an electronic circuit breaker in a locked-out state so beinglocked from going into a turned ON state if an electronic circuitryinside the electronic circuit breaker is found not functional inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To facilitate an understanding of embodiments, principles, and featuresof the present invention, they are explained hereinafter with referenceto implementation in illustrative embodiments. In particular, they aredescribed in the context of a lockout circuit breaker consisted of alockout mechanism that is integrated into an electronic trip mechanismusing a single electromagnet and a barrel. The lockout mechanism is usedin the lockout circuit breaker to lock the breaker from being able to beturned ON if there is a problem with electronics. This is to ensure thatthe user cannot turn ON the breaker if the electronics are damaged.Lockout mechanism discussed in this invention provides a lockout featureutilizing only few components. Lockout is a safety feature in which anelectronic circuit breaker is “locked” from being turned ON ifelectronics inside the breaker is not functional. The barrel serves toblock a moving arm, and a trip rod is pushed by an electronic-poweredmagnet to interact with the barrel to remove a lockout. Both or eithermagnets can be activated to push the trip rod to pull on an armature,causing the breaker to be tripped. Embodiments of the present invention,however, are not limited to use in the described devices or methods.

The components and materials described hereinafter as making up thevarious embodiments are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.Many suitable components and materials that would perform the same or asimilar function as the materials described herein are intended to beembraced within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

Consistent with one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1represents a representation of a diagrammatic view of a lockoutmechanism 105 integrated into an electronic trip mechanism 107 of anelectronic circuit breaker 110 using a single electromagnet such as anelectronic-powered magnet 112 with a barrel 115 that is shown at an OFFposition in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. The electronic circuit breaker 110 further comprises anelectronic circuitry 117. The lockout mechanism 105 is configured toprovide a safety feature in which the electronic circuit breaker 110 ismoved in a locked-out state so being locked from going into a turned ONstate if the electronic circuitry 117 inside the electronic circuitbreaker 110 is found not functional.

In one embodiment, the lockout mechanism 105 includes a trip rod 120placed along a longitudinal axis 122 of the electronic circuit breaker110. The trip rod 120 has first and second ends 125(1, 2). The lockoutmechanism 105 further includes the barrel 115 mounted coaxially aroundthe trip rod 120 near the first end 125(1) of the trip rod 120. Thelockout mechanism 105 further includes a moving arm 127 mechanicallycoupled to the trip rod 120. The lockout mechanism 105 further includesthe electronic-powered magnet 112 mounted coaxially on the trip rod 120near the second end 125(2) being opposite of the first end 125(1) of thetrip rod 120. The lockout mechanism 105 further includes an armature 130mechanically coupled to the trip rod 120. The barrel 115 serves to blockthe moving arm 127 and the trip rod 120 is pushed by theelectronic-powered magnet 112 to interact with the barrel 115 to removea lockout such that the electronic-powered magnet 112 is activated topush the trip rod 120 to pull on the armature 130, causing theelectronic circuit breaker 110 to be tripped.

In the electronic circuit breaker 110, when the moving arm 127 isrotated to turn ON the electronic circuit breaker 110, the moving arm127 is configured to push down on the barrel 115 to rotate the same andthen gets blocked by the barrel 115 a first time such that theelectronic circuit breaker 110 is put into the locked-out state. Theelectronic circuitry 117 is configured to run a self-test such thatafter the self-test the electronic-powered magnet 112 pushes the triprod 120 which in turn rotates the barrel 115 further and when the barrel115 is rotated the moving arm 127 passes through and gets stopped by thebarrel 115 for a second time. When the electronic-powered magnet 112stops firing, the barrel 115 and the trip rod 120 reset to theiroriginal positions and the moving arm 127 travels fully to close acircuit of the electronic circuit breaker 110. The electronic circuitbreaker 110 further comprises an electromagnet 132 disposed near thefirst end 125(1) of the trip rod 120 such that when tripping either orboth the electromagnet 132 and the electronic-powered magnet 112 pushthe trip rod 120 to left, pulling on the armature 130 in process to tripthe electronic circuit breaker 110 and the trip rod 120 travels insidethe barrel 115 and when the electromagnet 132 and the electronic-poweredmagnet 112 stops firing the trip rod 120 resets to its originalposition.

The lockout mechanism 105 of the electronic circuit breaker 110 includesthe trip rod 120 that has a cylinder tab 135. The barrel 115 is arotating component that includes a rotator tab 137, first and secondstoppers 140(1, 2) on a side of the barrel 115, a lockout slot 142(1)where the cylinder tab 135 travels and a trip slot 142(2) where thecylinder tab 135 travels during a trip. The cylinder tab 135 on the triprod 120 travels in the lockout slot 142(1) and the trip slot 142(2) ofthe barrel 115. The trip slot 142(2) is configured for a trip operationand the lockout slot 142(1) is configured to unlock the electroniccircuit breaker 110.

The moving arm 127 is configured to move to connect and disconnect acircuit. The moving arm 127 includes a pusher tab 145 (see also FIG. 4)and a lockout tab 147. The pusher tab 145 on the moving arm 127 pushesdown the rotator tab 137 on the barrel 115 during a turn ON process sothat the cylinder tab 135 is sitting on the lockout slot 142(1). Thelockout tab 147 on the moving arm 127 gets blocked by the first stopper140(1) and the second stopper 140(2) on the barrel 115 during the turnON process. The first stopper 140(1) locks out the electronic circuitbreaker 110 from turning ON by blocking the lockout tab 147. The secondstopper 140(2) stops the lockout tab 147 until the barrel 115 and thetrip rod 120 resets. The rotator tab 137 on the barrel 115 rotates thebarrel 115 when pushed by the pusher tab 145 and wherein the lockoutslot 142(1) is a slot where the cylinder tab 135 travels and as thecylinder tab 135 travels the barrel 115 rotates and the first stopper140(1) moves out of way of the moving arm 127 thus removing a lockout.

The lockout mechanism 105 of the electronic circuit breaker 110 furtherincludes the electronic-powered magnet 112 that operates to push thetrip rod 120 to remove the lockout during the turn ON process and totrip the electronic circuit breaker 110 when needed. The lockoutmechanism 105 of the electronic circuit breaker 110 further includes theelectromagnet 132 that operates to push the trip rod 120 to trip theelectronic circuit breaker 110 when needed.

The lockout mechanism 105 of the electronic circuit breaker 110 furtherincludes a cradle 150 that latches on the armature 130 for theelectronic circuit breaker to be able to turn ON and trips when thearmature 130 is rotated during a trip process. The lockout mechanism 105of the electronic circuit breaker 110 further includes the armature 130that latches on the cradle 150 and lets go of the cradle 150 during thetrip process when the trip rod 120 pushes to rotate the armature 130.

The electronic circuit breaker 110 further comprises a barrel resetspring 152 configured to reset the barrel 115 during the turn ON processwhen the moving arm 127 is stopped at the second stopper 140(2). Theelectronic circuit breaker 110 further comprises an armature resetspring 155 configured to reset the armature 130. The electronic circuitbreaker 110 further comprises a trip rod reset spring 157 configured toreset the trip rod 120 during the turn ON process when the moving arm127 is stopped at the second stopper 140(2) and after the electroniccircuit breaker 110 is tripped.

A breaker operating mechanism with the lockout mechanism 105 is shown inFIG. 1 through FIG. 5. One key difference between a regular circuitbreaker and the lockout circuit breaker 110 is the existence of acomponent named the barrel 115. FIG. 1 shows a lockout breaker assemblywith the barrel 115 at an OFF position. There are two slots 142 on thebarrel 115. The trip slot 142(2) (a straight slot) serves for a tripoperation and the lockout slot 142(1) (a curved slot) serves to unlockthe electronic circuit breaker 110. When the cylinder tab 135 on thetrip rod 120 is sitting on the straight slot of the barrel 115 and ispulled by the electromagnet 112 and/or 132 to the left, the trip rod 120is pulled the full extent and pulls the armature 130 to trip theelectronic circuit breaker 110. However, when the cylinder tab 135 is onthe curved slot and the trip rod 120 is pulled, the barrel 115 isrotated as the cylinder tab 135 travels inside the curve slot, and thearmature 130 is not pulled, since that slot is shorter than the tripslot 142(2).

Referring to FIG. 2, it illustrates the first step of turning ON for theelectronic circuit breaker 110 in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. As a handle 205 is rotatedcounterclockwise, the moving arm 127 rotates clockwise. As the movingarm 127 is rotating, it not only moves towards left in the FIG. 2, butit also moves down vertically a bit, since it is drawing an arc as itrotates. When the moving arm 127 moves down, the pusher tab 145 on themoving arm 127 pushes the rotator tab 137 on the barrel 115 and rotatesthe barrel 115. This achieves two functions: firstly, the rotatedbarrel's 115 first stopper 140(1) is now blocking the moving arm 127from going further to the left, preventing it from turning ON andsecondly, the cylinder tab 135 on the trip rod 120 is sitting at theentrance of the lockout slot 142(1) (the curved slot).

Turning now to FIG. 3, it illustrates an unlocking process in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the unlockingprocess, if the electronic circuitry 117 pass a self-test and signalsthe electromagnet 112 to pull the trip rod 120, the cylinder tab 135travels on a curved path, rotating the barrel 115 to move the firststopper 140(1) out of the way of the moving arm 127. The moving arm 127then falls further to the left, now being stopped by the second stopper140(2).

FIG. 4 illustrates the final step of turning ON in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. After the electromagnet112 stops pulling the trip rod 120, the trip rod reset spring 157 pushesthe trip rod 120 back to its original position. The barrel reset spring152 rotates the barrel 115 to its original position, and this moves thesecond stopper 140(2) out of the way of the moving arm 127, allowing itto make the circuit. The purpose of the second stopper 140(2) is to notallow the moving arm 127 to make an electrical connection before thebarrel 115 and the trip rod 120 are reset. Without the second stopper140(2), if a short circuit occurs at the instant of making the circuit,the trip rod 120 may still be sitting in the lockout slot 142(1) (thecurved slot), and the electronic circuit breaker 110 would not be ableto be tripped.

As seen in FIG. 5, it illustrates a TRIP operation for the electroniccircuit breaker 110 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. At an ON position, the electromagnet 112 and/or 132pulls the trip rod 120, and the trip rod 120 travels in the trip slot142(2) to pull the armature 130. Then, a similar TRIP process as aregular circuit breaker occurs to open the circuit. The one differencein TRIP process from the regular circuit breaker is that the pusher tab145 (see FIG. 4) on the moving arm 127 hits the rotator tab 137 on thebarrel 115 as it travels right.

However, the rotator tab 137 works like a leaf spring, stretching to theright to make way for the moving arm 127. The trip rod reset spring 157pushes the trip rod 120 back to its original position when the TRIPprocess is done. The tripped lockout circuit breaker 110 can be resetthe same way as the tripped regular circuit breaker to be able to turnthe breaker ON again. When the electronic circuit breaker 110 is resetfrom TRIP to OFF, the rotator tab 137 goes back to its original shape.Turning the lockout circuit breaker 110 from ON to OFF follows the sameprocess as the regular circuit breaker.

As shown in FIG. 6, it illustrates a schematic view of a flow chart of amethod 605 of moving the electronic circuit breaker 110 in a locked-outstate so being locked from going into a turned ON state if theelectronic circuitry 117 inside the electronic circuit breaker 110 isfound not functional in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Reference is made to the elements and featuresdescribed in FIGS. 1-5. It should be appreciated that some steps are notrequired to be performed in any particular order, and that some stepsare optional.

The method 605 comprises a step 610 of providing the electroniccircuitry 117 inside of the electronic circuit breaker 110. The method605 comprises a step 615 of providing the lockout mechanism 105 of FIG.1 configured to provide a safety feature. The electronic circuit breaker110 has the lockout mechanism 105 integrated into an electronic tripmechanism using a single electromagnet.

While a barrel-based design of an electronic circuit breaker isdescribed here a range of one or more other types of lockout mechanismsor other forms of lockout mechanisms are also contemplated by thepresent invention. For example, other types of lockout mechanisms may beimplemented based on one or more features presented above withoutdeviating from the spirit of the present invention.

The techniques described herein can be particularly useful for Arc FaultCircuit Interrupter (AFCI) and Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)types of electronic circuit breakers. While particular embodiments aredescribed in terms of the AFCI and GFCI electronic circuit breakers, thetechniques described herein are not limited to the AFCI and GFCIelectronic circuit breakers but can also be used with other electroniccircuit breakers.

While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed inexemplary forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatmany modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and itsequivalents, as set forth in the following claims.

Embodiments and the various features and advantageous details thereofare explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodimentsthat are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in thefollowing description. Descriptions of well-known starting materials,processing techniques, components and equipment are omitted so as not tounnecessarily obscure embodiments in detail. It should be understood,however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, whileindicating preferred embodiments, are given by way of illustration onlyand not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications,additions and/or rearrangements within the spirit and/or scope of theunderlying inventive concept will become apparent to those skilled inthe art from this disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, article, orapparatus.

Additionally, any examples or illustrations given herein are not to beregarded in any way as restrictions on, limits to, or expressdefinitions of, any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead,these examples or illustrations are to be regarded as being describedwith respect to one particular embodiment and as illustrative only.Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any term orterms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized willencompass other embodiments which may or may not be given therewith orelsewhere in the specification and all such embodiments are intended tobe included within the scope of that term or terms.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in theart appreciates that various modifications and changes can be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, thespecification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of invention.

Although the invention has been described with respect to specificembodiments thereof, these embodiments are merely illustrative, and notrestrictive of the invention. The description herein of illustratedembodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein (and inparticular, the inclusion of any particular embodiment, feature orfunction is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to suchembodiment, feature or function). Rather, the description is intended todescribe illustrative embodiments, features and functions in order toprovide a person of ordinary skill in the art context to understand theinvention without limiting the invention to any particularly describedembodiment, feature or function. While specific embodiments of, andexamples for, the invention are described herein for illustrativepurposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within thespirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant artwill recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may bemade to the invention in light of the foregoing description ofillustrated embodiments of the invention and are to be included withinthe spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, while the invention hasbeen described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof,a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions areintended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated thatin some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will beemployed without a corresponding use of other features without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe essential scope and spirit of the invention.

Respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in anembodiment,” or “in a specific embodiment” or similar terminology invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics of any particular embodiment may becombined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. Itis to be understood that other variations and modifications of theembodiments described and illustrated herein are possible in light ofthe teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit andscope of the invention.

In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, suchas examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment may be able tobe practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with otherapparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts,and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, components,systems, materials, or operations are not specifically shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of theinvention. While the invention may be illustrated by using a particularembodiment, this is not and does not limit the invention to anyparticular embodiment and a person of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that additional embodiments are readily understandable and area part of this invention.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted inthe drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated orintegrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certaincases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any component(s) thatmay cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature or component.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic circuit breaker comprising: anelectronic circuitry; and a lockout mechanism configured to provide asafety feature in which the electronic circuit breaker is moved in alocked-out state so being locked from going into a turned ON state ifthe electronic circuitry inside the electronic circuit breaker is foundnot functional, wherein the lockout mechanism including: a trip rodplaced along a longitudinal axis of the electronic circuit breaker, thetrip rod having first and second ends, a barrel mounted coaxially aroundthe trip rod near the first end of the trip rod, a moving armmechanically coupled to the trip rod, an electronic-powered magnetmounted coaxially on the trip rod near the second end being opposite ofthe first end of the trip rod, and an armature mechanically coupled tothe trip rod, wherein the barrel serves to block the moving arm and thetrip rod is pushed by the electronic-powered magnet to interact with thebarrel to remove a lockout such that the electronic-powered magnet isactivated to push the trip rod to pull on the armature, causing theelectronic circuit breaker to be tripped.
 2. The electronic circuitbreaker of claim 1, wherein when the moving arm is rotated to turn ONthe electronic circuit breaker, the moving arm is configured to pushdown on the barrel to rotate the same and then gets blocked by thebarrel a first time such that the electronic circuit breaker is put intothe locked-out state.
 3. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 1,wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to run a self-test suchthat after the self-test the electronic-powered magnet pushes the triprod which in turn rotates the barrel further and when the barrel isrotated the moving arm passes through and gets stopped by the barrel fora second time.
 4. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 3, whereinwhen the electronic-powered magnet stops firing, the barrel and the triprod reset to their original positions and the moving arm travels fullyto close a circuit of the electronic circuit breaker.
 5. The electroniccircuit breaker of claim 4, further comprising: an electromagnetdisposed near the first end of the trip rod such that when trippingeither or both the electromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet pushthe trip rod to left, pulling on the armature in process to trip theelectronic circuit breaker and the trip rod travels inside the barreland when the electromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet stopsfiring the trip rod resets to its original position.
 6. An electroniccircuit breaker comprising: a lockout mechanism including: a trip rodplaced along a longitudinal axis of the electronic circuit breaker, thetrip rod having first and second ends and a cylinder tab; a barrelmounted coaxially around the trip rod near the first end of the triprod, wherein the barrel is a rotating component that includes a rotatortab, first and second stoppers on a side of the barrel, a lockout slotwhere the cylinder tab travels and a trip slot where the cylinder tabtravels during a trip, wherein the cylinder tab on the trip rod travelsin the lockout slot and the trip slot of the barrel; a moving armmechanically coupled to the trip rod and configured to move to connectand disconnect a circuit, wherein the moving arm including a pusher taband a lockout tab, wherein the pusher tab on the moving arm pushes downthe rotator tab on the barrel during a turn ON process so that thecylinder tab is sitting on the lockout slot, wherein the lockout tab onthe moving arm gets blocked by the first stopper and the second stopperon the barrel during the turn ON process, wherein the first stopperlocks out the electronic circuit breaker from turning ON by blocking thelockout tab, wherein the second stopper stops the lockout tab until thebarrel and the trip rod resets, wherein the rotator tab on the barrelrotates the barrel when pushed by the pusher tab and wherein the lockoutslot is a slot where the cylinder tab travels and as the cylinder tabtravels the barrel rotates and the first stopper moves out of way of themoving arm thus removing a lockout; an electronic-powered magnet mountedcoaxially on the trip rod near the second end being opposite of thefirst end of the trip rod, wherein the electronic-powered magnetoperates to push the trip rod to remove the lockout during the turn ONprocess and to trip the electronic circuit breaker when needed; anelectromagnet disposed near the first end of the trip rod, wherein theelectromagnet operates to push the trip rod to trip the electroniccircuit breaker when needed; a cradle that latches on the armature forthe electronic circuit breaker to be able to turn ON and trips when thearmature is rotated during a trip process; and an armature mechanicallycoupled to the trip rod, wherein the armature latches on the cradle andlet's go of the cradle during the trip process when the trip rod pushesto rotate the armature, wherein the lockout mechanism is configured toprovide a safety feature in which the electronic circuit breaker ismoved in a locked-out state so being locked from going into a turned ONstate if an electronic circuitry inside the electronic circuit breakeris found not functional.
 7. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 6,wherein the barrel serves to block the moving arm and the trip rod ispushed by the electronic-powered magnet to interact with the barrel toremove a lockout such that the electronic-powered magnet is activated topush the trip rod to pull on the armature, causing the electroniccircuit breaker to be tripped.
 8. The electronic circuit breaker ofclaim 6, wherein when the moving arm is rotated to turn ON theelectronic circuit breaker, the moving arm is configured to push down onthe barrel to rotate the same and then gets blocked by the barrel afirst time such that the electronic circuit breaker is put into thelocked-out state.
 9. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 6, whereinthe electronic circuitry is configured to run a self-test such thatafter the self-test the electronic-powered magnet pushes the trip rodwhich in turn rotates the barrel further and when the barrel is rotatedthe moving arm passes through and gets stopped by the barrel for asecond time.
 10. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein whenthe electronic-powered magnet stops firing, the barrel and the trip rodreset to their original positions and the moving arm travels fully toclose a circuit of the electronic circuit breaker.
 11. The electroniccircuit breaker of claim 10, wherein when tripping either or both theelectromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet push the trip rod toleft, pulling on the armature in process to trip the electronic circuitbreaker and the trip rod travels inside the barrel and when theelectromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet stops firing the triprod resets to its original position.
 12. The electronic circuit breakerof claim 6, further comprising: a barrel reset spring configured toreset the barrel during the turn ON process when the moving arm isstopped at the second stopper.
 13. The electronic circuit breaker ofclaim 6, further comprising: an armature reset spring configured toreset the armature.
 14. The electronic circuit breaker of claim 6,further comprising: a trip rod reset spring configured to reset the triprod during the turn ON process when the moving arm is stopped at thesecond stopper and after the electronic circuit breaker is tripped. 15.The electronic circuit breaker of claim 6, wherein the trip slot isconfigured for a trip operation and the lockout slot is configured tounlock the electronic circuit breaker.
 16. A method of moving anelectronic circuit breaker in a locked-out state so being locked fromgoing into a turned ON state if an electronic circuitry inside theelectronic circuit breaker is found not functional, the methodcomprising: providing an electronic circuitry; and providing a lockoutmechanism configured to provide a safety feature, wherein the lockoutmechanism including: a trip rod placed along a longitudinal axis of theelectronic circuit breaker, the trip rod having first and second ends, abarrel mounted coaxially around the trip rod near the first end of thetrip rod, a moving arm mechanically coupled to the trip rod, anelectronic-powered magnet mounted coaxially on the trip rod near thesecond end being opposite of the first end of the trip rod, and anarmature mechanically coupled to the trip rod, wherein the barrel servesto block the moving arm and the trip rod is pushed by theelectronic-powered magnet to interact with the barrel to remove alockout such that the electronic-powered magnet is activated to push thetrip rod to pull on the armature, causing the electronic circuit breakerto be tripped.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein when the moving armis rotated to turn ON the electronic circuit breaker, the moving arm isconfigured to push down on the barrel to rotate the same and then getsblocked by the barrel a first time such that the electronic circuitbreaker is put into the locked-out state.
 18. The method of claim 16,wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to run a self-test suchthat after the self-test the electronic-powered magnet pushes the triprod which in turn rotates the barrel further and when the barrel isrotated the moving arm passes through and gets stopped by the barrel fora second time.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein when theelectronic-powered magnet stops firing, the barrel and the trip rodreset to their original positions and the moving arm travels fully toclose a circuit of the electronic circuit breaker.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising: providing an electromagnet disposed nearthe first end of the trip rod such that when tripping either or both theelectromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet push the trip rod toleft, pulling on the armature in process to trip the electronic circuitbreaker and the trip rod travels inside the barrel and when theelectromagnet and the electronic-powered magnet stops firing the triprod resets to its original position.